1

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL NO. 6492  OF 2011 (@ SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION(C)NO.24044 OF 2007)

STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH & ORS. ... APPELLANTS

VERSUS

SOBHANI DEVI ... RESPONDENT

WITH C.A.NO.6493 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.28332 OF 2008 WITH C.A.NO.6494 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.24122 OF 2007 WITH C.A.NO.6495 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.1112 OF 2008 WITH C.A.NO.6496 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.24337 OF 2007 WITH C.A.NO.6497 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.24339 OF 2007 WITH C.A.NO.6498 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.24341 OF 2007 WITH C.A.NO.6499 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.24343 OF 2007 WITH C.A.NO.6500 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.24428 OF 2007 WITH C.A.NO.6501 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.27987 OF 2008 WITH C.A.NO.6502 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.29249 OF 2008 WITH C.A.NO.6503 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.27003 OF 2008 WITH C.A.NO.6504 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.2543 OF 2009 WITH C.A.NO.6505 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.10145 OF 2009 WITH C.A.NO.6506 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.10531 OF 2009 WITH C.A.NO.6507 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.22499 OF 2009 WITH C.A.NO.6508 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.22502 OF 2009 WITH C.A.NO.6509 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.21282 OF 2009 WITH C.A.NO.6510 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.21286 OF 2009 WITH C.A.NO.6511 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.24743 OF 2009 WITH C.A.NO.6512 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.24747 OF 2009 WITH C.A.NO.6513 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.10598 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6514 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.3687 OF 2009 WITH C.A.NO.6515 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.14807 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6516 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.8773 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6517 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.16983 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6518 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.19343 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6519 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.20351 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6520 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.20380 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6521 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.20745 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6522 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.21880 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6523 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.27001 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6524 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.23387 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6525 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.23388 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6526 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.22431 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6527 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.21396 OF 2008 WITH C.A.NO.6528 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.30814 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6529 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.30815 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6530 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.30816 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6531 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.30818 OF 2010

2

WITH C.A.NO.6532 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.30824 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6533 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.30819 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6534 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.30820 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6535 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.30826 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6536 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.30829 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6537 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.28214 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6538 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.30834 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6539 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.28304 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6540 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.30835 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6541 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.30836 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6543 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.30822 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6544 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.30837 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6545 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.30839 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6546 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.30883 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6547 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.26227 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6548 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.22406 OF 2011 CC 14532/10 WITH C.A.NO.6549 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.26434 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6550 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.22408 OF 2011 CC 14590/10 WITH C.A.NO.6551 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.22409 OF 2011 CC 14605/10 WITH C.A.NO.6552 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.22410 OF 2011 CC 14632/10 WITH C.A.NO.6553 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.26535 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6554 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.26536 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6555 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.26531 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6556 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.22411 OF 2011 CC 14664/10 WITH C.A.NO.6557 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.22412 OF 2011 CC 14728/10 WITH C.A.NO.6558 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.22413 OF 2011 CC 14759/10 WITH C.A.NO.6559 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.22414 OF 2011 CC 14829/10 WITH C.A.NO.6560 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.26906 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6561 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.22415 OF 2011 CC 14966/10 WITH C.A.NO.6562 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.22416 OF 2011 CC 15012/10 WITH C.A.NO.6563 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.27326 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6568 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.22418 OF 2011 CC 15096/10 WITH C.A.NO.6569 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.27367 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6570 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.27089 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6571 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.22419 OF 2010 CC 15131/10 WITH C.A.NO.6572 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.27090 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6573 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.34334 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6574 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.34335 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6575 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.34337 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6576 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.34340 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6577 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.34342 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6578 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.34343 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6579 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.31652 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6580 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.31653 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6581 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.32730 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6582 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.35745 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6583 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.35746 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6584 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.35747 OF 2010 WITH C.A.NO.6585 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.1893 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6586 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.1896 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6587 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.1898 OF 2011

3

WITH C.A.NO.6588 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.1899 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6589 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.1902 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6590 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.1905 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6591 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.1906 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6592 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.1907 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6593 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.1909 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6594 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.1910 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6595 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.1911 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6596 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.1912 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6597 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.1917 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6598 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.1918 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6599 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.1920 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6600 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.1921 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6601 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.1922 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6602 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.1924 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6603 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.1926 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6604 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.1927 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6605 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.1929 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6606 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.1930 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6607 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.1931 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6608 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.1932 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6609 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.583 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6610 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.584 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6611 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.585 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6612 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.586 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6613 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.588 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6614 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.589 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6615 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.590 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6616 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.591 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6617 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.3434 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6618 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.3437 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6619 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.3439 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6620 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.3441 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6621 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.3442 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6622 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.3443 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6623 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.3444 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6624 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.3445 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6625 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.3446 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6626 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.3447 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6627 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.3449 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6628 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.3451 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6629 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.3452 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6630 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.3453 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6631 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.3454 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6632 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.3456 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6633 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.3457 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6634 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.3459 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6635 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.11379 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6637 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.184 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6638 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.185 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6640 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO. 186 OF 2011

4

WITH C.A.NO.6641 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.187 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6643 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.12455 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6644 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.12456 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6645 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.12457 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6646 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.12458 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6647 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.12460 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6648 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.12461 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6649 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.12462 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6650 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.12463  OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6651 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.12464 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6652 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.12465 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6653 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.12469 OF 2011 WITH C.A.NO.6654 OF 2011 @ S.L.P.(C)NO.1066 OF 2011

O R D E R

Delay condoned. Leave is granted in  all the Special Leave Petitions.

In view of the order passed by this Court in Civil  

Appeal No.4040 of 2011 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition  

(C)No.362 of 2008) etc.etc. in  State of Himachal Pradesh Vs.  

Sarab Dayal on 5th May, 2011, the impugned judgment of the High  

Court is set aside and the matters are remitted to the High  

Court for fresh consideration. The appeals are disposed of,  

leaving the parties to bear their own costs.  

...................J. (DALVEER BHANDARI)

...................J. (DEEPAK VERMA)

NEW DELHI; 8TH AUGUST, 2011